Despite nearly reaching record highs just a few weeks ago, Penn State’s COVID-19 case counts are starting to trend in the right direction.

From January 31 to February 6, just 126 University Park students and employees tested positive for COVID-19 out of 5,024 tests, according to Penn State’s online dashboard. That mark is the lowest weekly total Penn State’s reported so far this semester.

Penn State’s weekly case count peaked at 631 between January 17 and 23. Since then, the university’s weekly totals have declined, beginning with 340 positive tests reported between January 24 and 30.

Penn State’s decline in reported COVID-19 transmission closely follows local trends across the Centre region. On Tuesday, Centre County’s seven-day moving average for new cases checked in at 74, down from 134 a week ago and 234 two weeks ago, according to Pennsylvania Department of Health data.

Additionally, Pennsylvania’s seven-day case average checked in at 5,129 cases on Tuesday, down from 10,639 a week ago and 14,966 two weeks ago.

According to the DOH’s dashboard on Tuesday, 3,341 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized across Pennsylvania — the lowest level since late November. Mount Nittany Medical Center is treating 43 COVID-19 inpatients aged between 27 and 95 years old.

About 91.4% of students and 86% of employees at University Park are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Penn State’s COVID-19 Dashboard. The university doesn’t report (or ask for) booster shot coverage.

Only unvaccinated students and employees are required to get tested for COVID-19 each week. This spring, Penn State is revoking Canvas access for students who miss mandatory weekly testing appointments. Previously, unvaccinated students were placed on interim suspension for skipping three straight testing opportunities.

This semester, walk-up COVID-19 testing is available at the White Building on the following schedule:

• Mondays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturdays: noon to 5 p.m.
• Sundays: noon to 5 p.m.